starting to look like something . . .

I began working on the peg head/ neck two weeks ago, as I also began working on shaping the soundboard at the same time.  With the gears resting in their holes, it's beginning to look like an instrument.  The tuning gears came with grommets? which I'm not certain where they go.  I'm going to assume that those pieces go on the "exit" side of the gear.  Since the strings will be pulling on the gear-pegs (not sure of the technical name) against the wood, it makes sense to me to insert those pieces to protect the wood and strengthen the gear and keep it from wandering.

While I visited a friend this weekend, we hit a sort of consignment shop where I found a couple treasures.  Some wood files in great shape, which will help me shape the curved parts of the harpa and get into difficult-to-reach places like the grooves where the tuning gears exit; and, a Sigg wind screen for my Svea backpacking stove!  Perhaps not exciting if you don't know what significance a Sigg is--but the fellow I bought it from knew that I knew I had found a treasure, and he was genuinely pleased to know, as he said, "it's going to a good home."

I should also say that I've officially moved on from "wood splinters" to more serious cuts.  I was adjusting the position of my drill bit (yes, on a hand powered drill) when my piece of wood shifted and caused the bit to punch a hole in my finger.  Fingers bleed . . . a lot.  Silly, I know, but I am the girl who cut her hand on a toothpaste tube . . . yes.  A toothpaste tube. 

At any rate, I still wasn't happy with the position of the hole.  So filled it in with some sawdust mixed with glue and re-drilled the hole later.

I worked with a chisel to shape and pare down the grooves I had rough-cut with my coping saw.  Made a stupid "I know better-than-that" mistake when I got excited and cut my second groove before drilling my holes, so I had tear-out when I began drilling the second line.  A little work with the chisel fixed that and sand paper will do the rest.

The sound board has an amazing hum to it when I tap it.  I'm still a little doubtful about leaving it 1/4 inch thick; but, that's what Jan Ling's measurements describe, and this is a trial run so I'll go with it.